Bob Corker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bob Corker
Official portrait, 2012
United States Senator from Tennessee
In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Bill Frist
Succeeded by	Marsha Blackburn
Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Bob Menendez
Succeeded by	Jim Risch
71st Mayor of Chattanooga
In office April 16, 2001 – April 18, 2005
Preceded by	Jon Kinsey
Succeeded by	Ron Littlefield
Tennessee Commissioner of Finance and Administration
In office January 1995 – July 1, 1996
Governor	Don Sundquist
Preceded by	David Manning
Succeeded by	John Ferguson
Personal details
Born	Robert Phillips Corker Jr. (1952-08-24) August 24, 1952 (age 72) Orangeburg, South Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Elizabeth Corker ​ (m. 1987)​
Children	2
Education	University of Tennessee (BS)

Robert Phillips Corker Jr. (born August 24, 1952) is an American businessman and politician. He served as a U.S. Senator for Tennessee from 2007 to 2019. He is a member of the Republican Party. From 2015 to 2019, he led the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In 1978, Corker started a construction company. He sold it in 1990. Later, he bought two large real estate companies in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 2001, he was elected the 71st Mayor of Chattanooga. He served one term, from 2001 to 2005.

Corker first ran for the U.S. Senate in 1994 but lost in the primary election. He was appointed Commissioner of Finance and Administration for Tennessee from 1995 to 1996. In 2006, he ran again for the U.S. Senate. He won against Democratic candidate Harold Ford Jr. by a small margin. He was reelected in 2012. In 2017, Corker announced he would not seek reelection in 2018. Marsha Blackburn was elected to take his place.

Early Life and Family Background

Bob Corker was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina. His family moved to Tennessee when he was eleven years old.

He graduated from Chattanooga High School in 1970. In 1974, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Corker was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. His college roommate was Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.

In his twenties, Corker went on a mission trip to Haiti. This trip inspired him to become more involved in his community. He helped start the Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise. This group gives low-interest home loans and home maintenance education.

Corker married Elizabeth on January 10, 1987. They have two daughters. Their home is the Anne Haven Mansion in Chattanooga.

Business Ventures and Success

Corker began working at age 13, collecting trash and bagging ice. He later worked in construction. After college, he saved $8,000. In 1978, he used this money to start his own construction company, Bencor.

His company grew quickly. By the mid-1980s, it had projects in 18 states. He sold Bencor in 1990. In 1999, Corker bought two major real estate companies in Chattanooga. He sold these properties in 2006.

In 2005, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga honored him. They named him to their "Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame." Corker believes his business experience helped him in politics. As of 2008, his assets were worth over $19 million.

Serving as Mayor of Chattanooga

Modern extension of the Hunter Museum of American Art

Corker was elected mayor of Chattanooga in March 2001. He served until 2005. As mayor, he had big plans to improve the city. He focused on growing the economy, public safety, and education.

He worked to bring good jobs to the city. He helped create Enterprise South, a large industrial park. This park is now home to companies like Volkswagen. He also started the Chattanooga Opportunity Fund. This fund helps local start-up businesses.

Corker also had a vision for technology. Chattanooga became the first city with a direct fiber optic connection to Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He also launched MetroNet. This project aimed to provide super-fast internet to businesses. The city's power board, EPB, took on this task. Because of this, Chattanooga is now known as the "Gig City." It offers very fast internet speeds to homes and businesses.

He also worked to improve schools. In 2002, he started a bonus system for teachers. Teachers and principals could earn bonuses for improving student performance. This led to better reading scores for third graders.

Corker started ChattanoogaRESULTS in 2003. This program helped city departments improve their performance. It led to a nearly 26% decrease in crime in Chattanooga. Violent crimes dropped by 50% between 2001 and 2004.

As mayor, Corker announced a $120 million riverfront renovation project. This project included expanding the Hunter Museum of Art. It also renovated the Creative Discovery Museum and expanded the River Walk. A new salt water building was added to the Tennessee Aquarium. Half of the project was paid for with city bonds. Corker also raised $51 million from private donors. The project was finished in 35 months, as he promised. It greatly changed Chattanooga for the better.

Corker also created Outdoor Chattanooga. This group promotes outdoor activities in the region. He famously said the city would become the "Boulder of the East." Chattanooga has since been named the "Best Town Ever" by Outside Magazine twice. It now hosts major rowing and Ironman races.

Time in the U.S. Senate

2006 Election Campaign

In 2004, Corker decided to run for the U.S. Senate. The seat was being left open by Senator Bill Frist. In the Republican primary, Corker won with 48% of the vote.

In the general election, Corker faced Harold Ford, Jr.. They had three televised debates. Corker won the election by less than three percentage points. He was sworn in as Senator on January 4, 2007.

Corker Senate portrait (2007)

2012 Reelection

In November 2012, Corker won his reelection. He received 65% of the vote. His opponent was Mark E. Clayton. Clayton received 30% of the vote.

Corker was joined at his inauguration by Bill Frist, Howard Baker, and Lamar Alexander

U.S. Senators Bob Corker, Richard Burr, Lamar Alexander, Kay Hagan, Congressman John Duncan, and Dolly Parton among others at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2009

Key Actions and Votes

Corker was part of the Gang of 10. This is a group of senators from both parties. They work together on energy reform. He voted against a bill to set up a "cap-and-trade" system for greenhouse gas emissions. He later supported efforts to stop the EPA from regulating these gases.

In 2008, Corker was one of only sixteen Senators to oppose a tax rebate stimulus plan. He called it "political stimulus." He also opposed the federal bailout of U.S. automakers in 2008. He wanted strict conditions on any aid.

In September 2009, Corker became a leader on the Senate Special Committee on Aging. In 2010, he voted against a financial regulations bill. He felt it did not fix problems with loans or bankruptcy laws.

Corker supported the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty in 2010. This treaty aimed to reduce nuclear weapons. In 2013, he voted against a bill to expand background checks for all gun buyers.

In 2018, Corker and Bob Menendez warned against the Trump administration's foreign aid plans. He also voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Corker said Kavanaugh was qualified, but noted the political environment was difficult.

In late 2018, Corker criticized President Trump. He said Trump divided Americans instead of uniting them. He also called the government shutdown over border wall funding a "purposely contrived fight."

Committee Roles

• Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
• Committee on Foreign Relations (chairman)
• Special Committee on Aging (Ranking member, 2009–2011)

Retirement from Senate

Corker (first from left), Foundations World Economic Forum, January 24, 2018.

On September 26, 2017, Corker announced he would not run for reelection in 2018. This kept a promise he made in 2006 to serve only two terms. After this announcement, Corker became more critical of President Donald Trump. He accused Trump of weakening the United States' global standing.

Political Views

Bob Corker is seen as a moderate conservative. He often scores well on conservative ratings.

Social Issues

Corker is against same-sex marriage. However, in 2015, he voted to give social security benefits to same-sex couples.

In June 2018, Corker was one of thirteen Republican senators to sign a letter. It asked for a pause on the Trump administration family separation policy. Corker said the Trump administration made a "large mistake." He felt Congress needed to work on long-term immigration solutions.

Money and Taxes

In 2006, Corker supported making the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent. He was interested in replacing the federal income tax with a flat tax.

He supported the first part of the TARP funding in 2008. This program helped stabilize the economy.

In 2011, Corker voted for a budget plan that would change Medicare. He called programs like Medicare and Social Security "generational theft." In 2013, he supported the Marketplace Fairness Act. This act would let states collect sales taxes on online purchases.

Corker was the only Republican senator to vote against the Senate's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He was worried about the national debt. However, he later voted for the final version of the bill. He said he believed the country would be better off with it. Some people pointed out that a new part of the bill could benefit the Trump family and some Republicans, including Corker.

Foreign Policy

In 2007, Corker traveled to Iraq to study the situation. He opposed a set deadline for U.S. troops to leave Iraq. He supported General David Petraeus's strategy.

In 2009, Corker criticized President Obama's Afghan war strategy. He felt the U.S. was building Afghanistan's economy and government. He also said that Canada and other countries were benefiting from the U.S. by having lower healthcare prices.

In 2013, Corker criticized American help to the opposition in Syria. In 2016, he believed the European Union was open to President of Syria Bashar al-Assad staying in power. He felt the U.S. not acting in Syria in 2013 made the world doubt America.

Corker believes in giving Ukraine weapons to help them fight. In 2017, he criticized President Trump's tweets against North Korea. He said Trump's actions could lead to war.

In 2017, Corker worked on a plan for a stronger nuclear agreement with Iran. He warned that leaving the Iran nuclear deal would hurt future treaties. In 2018, he said U.S. relations with Russia were at their lowest point since the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Corker supported President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. In 2018, he helped introduce a bill to update the authorization for military force.

Health Care Views

In 2009, Corker opposed a health-care reform idea. It would have allowed Americans to buy cheaper Canadian drugs. He also opposed President Barack Obama's health reform laws. He voted against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2009 and 2010.

In 2010, Corker was the only senator to support a filibuster. This delayed an extension of unemployment benefits. In 2017, he said he would support repealing the Affordable Care Act. In October 2017, he helped introduce a plan to stabilize the Affordable Care Act's insurance exchanges.

Trade Policies

In 2018, Corker was one of many Republican senators who asked President Trump to keep the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). He wanted it updated for the modern economy.

In May 2018, Trump announced tariffs on steel and aluminum. Corker said these tariffs were "the wrong approach." He felt they hurt businesses and international relationships. In September 2018, Trump announced tariffs on goods from China. Corker said Americans would pay for these tariffs.

Environment Concerns

As mayor of Chattanooga, Corker asked to lower speed limits on highways. This was to reduce air pollution. While he doesn't fully accept the scientific consensus on global warming, he supported a resolution in 2015. It stated that humans contribute to climate change. He favors a tax on carbon.

Election Results

See also

In Spanish: Bob Corker para niños